Gift To Schools May Be Washout

$25,000 Offered To Clean One Side Of Historic Building

August 06, 1987|By Wes Smith.

An anonymous donor offered the Chicago Board of Education $25,000 in cleaning money Wednesday. But the board might say no soap.

The Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, representing an anonymous donor, offered the $25,000 to pay for cleaning the State Street side of the historic--but grimy--Chicago Building at State and Madison Streets.

The school board owns the decaying 83-year-old office and retail building and is trying to decide whether to sell it, keep it or tear it down.

The donor is ``profoundly concerned that this building might be lost,``

said a preservation council spokesman.

``We recognize that the cleanup will not be the only thing that is needed,`` said Carol Wyant, executive director of the preservation council,

``but I think the board has made it clear they do not want to be in the real estate business.

``In essence, this ought to help them market the value of it,`` she said. ``It is a serious offer, not a trivial one, and I would appreciate it being taken in that spirit.``

Reluctant to turn down money, the board`s president, Dr. Frank Gardner, and its chief financial officer, Barbara Peck, said they would examine the offer carefully.

``We are always glad to see funds come in, but this is directed for a particular purpose, and I would want to know more about it and how it would benefit the school system and its children down the line,`` Gardner said.

Peck said any assumption that the board wants to tear the building down is wrong.

``There are assumptions being made about the board`s intentions when the board has not identified its intentions,`` she said.

Peck said she was concerned also about what might happen if the cleanup was approved and costs exceeded $25,000.

``Would they expect me to lay off a teacher to cover the rest of the cost?`` she asked. Still, Peck conceded, ``It`s hard to say, `No, I don`t want your money.` ``

The board gained clear title to the building just last year after a long court battle with its long-term tenant. On taking possession, the board found that it was in bad shape inside and out. The building`s terra cotta exterior is blackened by grime and is crumbling.

One board staff member said it would take millions just to get the building`s mechanical systems back in shape.

In May the board ordered all tenants above the third floor to move out by September because the cost of maintaining the 15-story building`s upper floors was not covered by the rent.

Constructed in 1904 and designed by the architects Holabird & Roche, the building is considered one of the most intact and purest examples of the Chicago School of late 19th Century architectural design.

The Chicago City Council`s Committee on Historical Landmark Preservation refused an attempt to grant the Chicago Building protected status by making it an official city landmark in mid-June. Chicago school board officials testified at the time that the landmark status, which can make it difficult to modernize or tear down a building, would put the board in a financial bind because of its high maintenance cost.